Press Release

Contact Information: Dave Hass (630) 221-7374

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

DuPage County ranks No. 1 among healthiest counties in Illinois

The DuPage County Health Department is honored to announce that DuPage County has once again been recognized as one of the healthiest counties in Illinois, this time ranking No. 1 in both key measures of the rankings. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation rankings are based on quality of life factors such as longevity and overall health status, including physical and mental health.

The rankings cover counties in all 50 states. The rankings include two separate categories, including Health Outcomes (how healthy we are) and Health Factors (how healthy we can be). DuPage County ranks No. 1 overall in both categories among 102 counties in Illinois.

"This is especially gratifying since it is the first time DuPage County has ranked No. 1 in both key measures,” said Karen Ayala, Executive Director of the Health Department. “The Health Department places a high priority on positively and effectively influencing the factors that affect the health of our residents," she added.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin commented: “We are thrilled with this designation and attribute it to the fact that we, as a county, prioritize the health of our residents. What sets us apart is our culture of collaboration. Together with healthcare providers and non-profit organizations, our Health Department and County representatives focus on initiatives impacting the needs of low-income families, and those struggling with substance abuse and mental illness. Programs aimed at prevention, and those connecting our residents to resources, drive healthy living in DuPage.”

The Health Department has undertaken several county-wide initiatives over the last several years that have contributed positively to the health of residents.

For example, the DuPage Narcan Program, RxBOX medication collection initiative, Impact DuPage and the DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team continue to drive healthy living in DuPage. "We realize that within those programs, as well as many others, our success is due to the strong partnerships and collaborative approaches within DuPage County," said Ayala. "These rankings are not the result of a single agency's efforts, but rather the health care safety net systems that exist throughout our communities."

"We will not rest on our laurels," said Ayala. "We have a strong history of working collaboratively throughout our community to identify our residents' health needs and then developing innovative and effective programs to keep DuPage County residents healthy."

The online report, available at www.countyhealthrankings.org, includes an overview of each county in Illinois with a color-coded map comparing each county's overall health ranking.